ATF Chief Open to Bypassing Laws to Ban Unfamiliar Guns
President Biden’s ATF Director Shows Ignorance on Guns
President Joe Biden’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms Director Steven Dettelbach seems to know as much about guns as Democrat-nominated Supreme Court justices.
As ATF head, Dettelbach, who was confirmed in 2022 with the help of Senate Democrats and two Republicans, is expected to understand to some degree the items his agency regulates and enforces. Unfortunately for Americans who have endured a slew of attacks on their Second Amendment rights at the hands of the Biden administration, Dettelbach is publicly ignorant about the guns and gun parts his agency wants to ban.
Ignorance on Firearms and Modifications
During his appearance on CBS’s “Face The Nation” over the weekend, Dettelbach outlined for CBS News’s Margaret Brennan the ATF’s desire to ban certain firearms and modifications he claimed are loopholes in restrictive gun laws.
In the sit-down portion of his interview, Dettelbach claimed his 5,000-person agency is “way, way, way too small” to fully satisfy Biden’s gun-grabbing goals. He also admitted the ATF, even though barred from creating a federal database of firearm owners, still devotes its time and resources to “work within that system” and link guns to owners.
When the interview shifted to a demonstration featuring a table of unloaded firearms, Dettelbach tried his best to make the case for more regulation of law-abiding Americans’ top self-defense option. Even with the help of one of the ATF’s “leading experts,” however, Dettelbach failed to demonstrate knowledge of even the most basic firearm anatomy such as the difference between a clip and a magazine.
Acting AFT division chief Chris Bort, the “expert” present for the demonstration, also struggled to disassemble a pistol in an attempt to show how allegedly easily Americans can swap firearm frames. Bort is acting head of the ATF’s Firearms Ammunition Technology Division.
“Can’t get this one apart,” he mumbled as Dettelbach complained that the ATF is barred from regulating most gun parts outside of frames and receivers.
“You would like to do that?” Brennan asked.
“That’s up to Congress to determine,” Dettelbach said.
Pushing for Bans on Bump Stocks
If the ATF truly acts as if Congress is the final authority on what firearms and firearm parts get scrutinized, then its director wouldn’t be on national news emphasizing the need to keep a bump stock ban. That is what Dettelbach and Bort did next.
When the conversation shifted to bump stocks, Bort agreed with Brennan that “there’s no reason you would use that for hunting.”
“No, I do not believe you would use this for hunting,” he said.
“This is to shoot large numbers of people at once,” Brennan claimed.
Before Bort could answer, Dettelbach jumped in to explain that a bump stock was used by the Las Vegas shooter in 2017 to kill 58 and injure hundreds more.
The ATF previously allowed law-abiding Americans to own and use non-mechanical bump stocks to aid with trigger dexterity, but redefined them as “machine guns” shortly after the 2017 tragedy. The ATF’s rushed rule forced Americans to destroy or surrender their lawfully acquired non-mechanical bump stocks or face felony charges. That led to a slew of lawsuits and court decisions.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments last month to determine if the ATF has the authority to ban bump stocks based on claims the assistive casing transforms semiautomatic rifles into machine guns. The court is expected to rule on the case this summer.
“So these could, in theory, be back on the market after June?” Brennan asked, clearly displeased with the possibility.
“The Supreme Court will rule how it rules and we’ll follow the line. If they say that it can’t be regulated, it’ll just have to be the application of the National Firearms Act without that particular. Depends on what they say and how they say it,” Dettelbach said.
Misunderstanding Pistol Braces and 3D-Printed Guns
Dettelbach expressed the same belief about pistol braces. The ATF barred those via a rule that, if not stopped in courts, could have turned up to 40 million Americans who legally obtained pistol brace-equipped firearms into federal felons.
“The two weapons are designed to be fired from the shoulder identically,” Dettelbach claimed of pistol-brace equipped firearms and the National Firearms Act-regulated short-barrel rifle.
“They all look the same,” Brennan added.
“Right, so we’re treating them the same,” Dettelbach said.
Dettelbach also claimed gun owners are using 3D-printed plastic guns and modifications to change their semi-automatic weapons to “functionally, to do the things that a fully automatic weapon” does.
“So now, do-it-yourselfers who are not in the law enforcement community, who are not in the military, can break the law by doing what I was talking about before,” Dettelbach said.
Bort confirmed the ATF is “seeing this on the rise with gangs, cartels,” and other criminal groups. Yet Dettelbach repeatedly insisted it is law-abiding American citizens who purchase guns through licensed federal firearm dealers who must face bans or register and pay extra for gun parts.
Dettelbach pinned the bulk of the 3D-printed weapons problem not on the presence of criminal organizations emboldened by open borders but on Americans the ATF head claimed are responsible for manufacturing “most of the weapons that go to the cartels.”
“And they flow south over the border,” Dettelbach claimed.
“And the Mexican government constantly complains,” Brennan added.
Dettelbach concluded the segment by begging federal firearms dealers to help his agency stop straw purchases and other firearm-buying crimes. He claimed the ATF “respects” and “depends” on FFLs to operate but did not mention that law-abiding gun sellers already face penalties and even license revocations over even the most minor of paperwork flukes.
How does the ATF’s devotion of resources to linking guns to owners, despite being prohibited from creating a federal database of firearm owners, raise questions about the agency’s adherence to the law and potential infringement on Second Amendment rights?
In a recent appearance on CBS’s ”Face The Nation,” President Biden’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) Director, Steven Dettelbach, showcased a concerning lack of knowledge about guns and their components. This ignorance is troubling, considering Dettelbach’s position as the head of the ATF and the agency’s responsibility to regulate and enforce laws related to firearms.
During the interview, Dettelbach discussed the ATF’s desire to ban certain firearms and modifications, which he claimed are loopholes in restrictive gun laws. He also mentioned that the agency, despite being prohibited from creating a federal database of firearm owners, still devotes resources to linking guns to owners. This statement raises questions about the ATF’s adherence to the law and the potential infringement on Second Amendment rights.
Furthermore, Dettelbach’s lack of understanding became even more evident during a demonstration involving unloaded firearms. He struggled to differentiate between basic firearm components, such as a clip and a magazine. Additionally, the acting chief of the ATF’s Firearms Ammunition Technology Division, Chris Bort, also failed to disassemble a pistol, further highlighting the lack of expertise within the agency.
The interview also delved into the topic of bump stocks, which the ATF previously allowed law-abiding citizens to own and use. However, following the tragic Las Vegas shooting in 2017, the ATF redefined bump stocks as “machine guns,” forcing Americans to surrender or destroy these devices or face criminal charges. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing the ATF’s authority to ban bump stocks based on claims that they transform semiautomatic rifles into machine guns.
Dettelbach expressed support for maintaining a ban on bump stocks, further emphasizing the need for regulation. However, his understanding of their usage and applicability to hunting seemed limited, which raises concerns about the effectiveness of his decision-making.
Similarly, Dettelbach’s understanding of pistol braces and 3D-printed guns appears to be lacking. The ATF’s restrictions on pistol braces have been highly controversial, leading to debates about their classification and regulation. Dettelbach’s statements on the matter convey uncertainty, as he defers to the Supreme Court’s ruling and the application of the National Firearms Act.
Overall, Dettelbach’s demonstrated ignorance about firearms and their configurations is concerning for the American public, particularly those who value their Second Amendment rights. As the ATF Director, he should possess a thorough understanding of the items his agency regulates and enforces. This lack of knowledge raises doubts about his ability to make informed decisions that respect the rights and interests of law-abiding gun owners. It is essential for the Biden administration to address these concerns and ensure that those appointed to positions of authority possess the necessary expertise and understanding to fulfill their roles effectively.
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